Feed-water regulator.



T. R. WHITTAKER. FEED WATER REGULATOR. APPLICATION FILED APB.. 3. 1907 980,037. atentea 1360.27, 1910.

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' THOMAS R. WHITTAKER, .0F LAWRENCE, MASSACHUSETTS.

FEED-WATER REGULATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

App1ication filed April 3, 1907. Serial No. 366,195.

Patented Dec. 27, 1910.

`To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS R. VHIT- TAKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lawrence, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Feed- Water Regulators, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to an improvement in feed water regulators for steam boilers, in which the feed valve is controlled by a float operated by the water level.

The main object of the present invention is the provision of a regulator so constructed and `arranged. as to render it more sensitive and quickly responsive to the variations in water level than is ordinarily incident to such structures.

The invention will be described in the following specification, reference being had particularly to the accompanying drawing, in which the ligure represents aI vertical scction, partly in elevation, of a feed water regulator constructed in accordance with my invention.

Referring particularly to the drawings, my improved feed water regulator includes a valve casing 1 in open communication with the water service pipe 2, and also in communication with the feed water pipe 3 leading to the boiler. The interior of the casing l is formed in alinement with the feed water pipe 3 with a pipe chamber il, the forward end of which is closed by a wall 5 directly across and spaced from the outlet of the service pipe 2. The wall of the pipe chamber 4 at upper and lower diametrically opposed points is formed with valve openings 6, the Walls of which are appropriately kformed to provide serviceable valve seats.

Valves 7, of disk like form, are arranged for coperation with the respective seats, being connected for simultaneous operation through a tubular body 8. In vertical alinement with the valve opening 6 the casing 1 is formed with an opening 9 interiorly threaded for the reception of a tubular guide rod 10, the upper end of which is connected through a suitable union 11 with a tubular extension 12 depending from and in open communication with a float casing 13.

The valves 7 are provided with a valve stem 14, preferably extended through the tubular body 8 and secured below the same. The valve stem projects upwardly through the guide rod 10 and extension 12, the upper end of said rod within the casing 13 being provided with any desired form of fioat 15.

The casing 13 is in open communication with the water column 16 through the lnedium of a series of pipe sections 17 connected by suitable couplings, the inlet of said connection relative to the casing being at the lower end of the latter. The pipe section 17, immediately adjacent the water column, is interiorly provided with an independent conduit 18, the outer end of which opens through an extension 19 formed in the wall of the section 17. The conduit 18 is, through the medium of pipe sections 20, in open communication with the float casing 13, said section 20 opening into the casing at the relatively upper portion of the latter. The water column is thus in open communication with the respective ends of the float casing through distinct water passages, though as shown these respective passages for a distance beyond the water column are included in a single pipe section, for a purpose which will presently appear.

In use the water rising in the column will find its way into the casing 13 through the pipe sections 17 and elevate the iioat with the eii'ect to close the valve 7 and thereby prevent passage of the water into the feed pipe 3. In this connection it is to be noted that the casing 13, and the disposition of the communicating pipe section 2O is above the upper end of the water column 1G, so that the water supplied to the casing to operate the float cannot reach the casing throu h the duct or conduit 1S. As the water fal s below the normal level, which is approximately in alinement with the connection of the fioat casing pipes with the water. column, it is obvious that the water will flow through the pipe sections 17 and relieve the float, thereby permitting the descent of the latter and consequent opening of the valve 7 to supply the boiler. In order, however, to provide a more sensitive and quickly responsive action of the float, and, therefore, of the valves I provide the additional conduit 18 in communication with the upper part of the float casing above the float. With this conduit and connection the steam within the water column will, upon the descent of the water to expose the conduit, find its way through said conduit and into the float casing above the iioat. The pressure of the steam will tend to more effectually empty the float casing and exert more or less pressure upon the float, thereby rendering the same more sensitive and responsive to the actual water level in the column.

In connection with the feed water regulator described, the formation of the conduit 18 within the column section of the float casing connection, is important, as I am thereby-enabled to provide for juncture of the regulator and water column through a single coupling, preferably provided by removing one of the try valves of the column. This is a material feature of the present invention as it permits the application of the regulator of the present invention to any of the ordinary water columnsin use.

-I have illustrated a feed water alarm in connection with the present regulator, though it is to be understood that this particular invention forms the subject matter' of a separate application. Generally, however,

the structure of the alarm includes a pipe section 21 projecting through one wall of the column and carrying at the free end beyond said column any desired form of alarm, as a whistle 22. A valve 23 communicates with the pipe 21, being actuated by a stem 24 supported upon a lever 25 fulcrumed intermediate its ends on an extension from the pipe 21 and carrying at the relatively inner end a oat 26, and at the outer end a depending rod 27,. The rod 27 extends lengthwise the column adjacent the wall thereof, and is provided near the lower end of the column with a laterally extending arm 28 in the free end of which is formed a guide opening 29 for the reception of the stem 30 of a second float 81. The stem is further guided in an arm 32 fixed to the wall of the column, and is provided above the arm 28 with a fixed disk 33 adapted on depression of the float to engage the arm 28. The respective floats 26 and 31 are arranged at the upper and lower limits of the water level, it being obvious from the construction described that the descent of either float due to the falling of the water level will open the valve 23 and sound the alarm.

The present invention is directed parti cularly to the feed water regulator, and the salient feature of such resides in the means by which the float is rendered more sensitive and quickly responsive, and in the arrangement of the connections whereby the dual communication between the water column and float casing is secured by a single connection. v

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new, is

The combination with a water column of a feed water regulator including a feed valve, a casing therefor, a sleeve secured to and rising from the casing, a stem slidably mounted in the sleeve and connected directly to the feed valve, a casing secured upon the upper end of the sleeve, a float mounted upon the upper end of the stem within the casing, a steam .connection leading from the water column at the normal water level therein and opening into the casing above the top of the water column, and a water` pipe opening into the water column at the normal water level therein and into the casing below the top of the water column.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS R. VVHITTAKER.

Vitnesses JOHN L. FLETCHER, K. ALLEN. 

